Golf as a modern sport was invented in Scotland, specifically on the eastern coast near Edinburgh, during the 15th century. The game originated from players hitting a pebble over sand dunes using bent sticks or clubs. The earliest documented reference to golf is from an Act of the Scottish Parliament in 1457, which banned the game as a distraction from military training. Golf later gained royal approval in 1502 by King James IV of Scotland, which helped its popularity spread throughout Europe. The oldest golf course is the Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland, which dates back to before the 15th century and is considered the historic home of golf. The first official rules were established in 1744 by the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith in Scotland.
Thus, golf was invented in Scotland in the 15th century.
